A Clarksville man took the law into his own hands when he chased down a thief who police said stole from his elderly mother's home.Now, the suspect, 33-year-old Thomas O'Raferty, is in the Clark County Jail.Police said he tried to take advantage of that woman, but her son wasn't about to let him get away."I was born in the country, and we always trusted people," said the victim, Mildred McCart.For the 89-year-old McCart, that trust was broken when O'Raferty showed up at her door Wednesday morning."I thought he might've been a serviceman. He had a flat-top, (he was) clean looking," said McCart.Instead, police said O'Rafferty is a thief, something McCart found out after she let him use her bathroom."I said, 'You know, I don't like to do that. I don't make a habit of letting people come in and use my bathroom.' But I said, 'I guess I can make an exception," said McCart.Within a couple minutes, O'Rafferty was gone.But McCart later realized some of her jewelry and her purse had disappeared, too."And I went out there and told my son, ,Well I've done something stupid.' And he said, 'Well I'm going to ride around and see if I can't see him," said McCart."From her description, it was so vivid and so clear," said McCart's son, Miles McCart.Miles McCart found O'Rafferty walking near the Lewis and Clark parkway about a mile from his mother's home.That's where he jumped out and confronted the suspect with this garden hoe in hand."I guess it was more for my own defense. I never had any intention of actually trying to strike this fella," said Miles McCart.Instead, he chased O'Raferty down the street and behind businesses, yelling for help all along the way."By that time, I had told just enough people to call police that I heard sirens," said Miles McCart.Clarksville police quickly caught up with O'Rafferty and booked him into jail."I just tell anybody to never let anybody in their house, regardless of how they look," said Mildred McCart.O'Rafferty is charged with theft. Police said he was caught with the jewelry still on him. The purse hasn't been found.

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. —

A Clarksville man took the law into his own hands when he chased down a thief who police said stole from his elderly mother's home.

Now, the suspect, 33-year-old Thomas O'Raferty, is in the Clark County Jail.

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Police said he tried to take advantage of that woman, but her son wasn't about to let him get away.

"I was born in the country, and we always trusted people," said the victim, Mildred McCart.

For the 89-year-old McCart, that trust was broken when O'Raferty showed up at her door Wednesday morning.

"I thought he might've been a serviceman. He had a flat-top, (he was) clean looking," said McCart.

Instead, police said O'Rafferty is a thief, something McCart found out after she let him use her bathroom.

"I said, 'You know, I don't like to do that. I don't make a habit of letting people come in and use my bathroom.' But I said, 'I guess I can make an exception," said McCart.

Within a couple minutes, O'Rafferty was gone.

But McCart later realized some of her jewelry and her purse had disappeared, too.

"And I went out there and told my son, ,Well I've done something stupid.' And he said, 'Well I'm going to ride around and see if I can't see him," said McCart.

"From her description, it was so vivid and so clear," said McCart's son, Miles McCart.

Miles McCart found O'Rafferty walking near the Lewis and Clark parkway about a mile from his mother's home.

That's where he jumped out and confronted the suspect with this garden hoe in hand.

"I guess it was more for my own defense. I never had any intention of actually trying to strike this fella," said Miles McCart.

Instead, he chased O'Raferty down the street and behind businesses, yelling for help all along the way.

"By that time, I had told just enough people to call police that I heard sirens," said Miles McCart.

Clarksville police quickly caught up with O'Rafferty and booked him into jail.

"I just tell anybody to never let anybody in their house, regardless of how they look," said Mildred McCart.

O'Rafferty is charged with theft. Police said he was caught with the jewelry still on him. The purse hasn't been found.